Black Fungus Notified As Epidemic Disease: Centre Directs States To Notify Mucormycosis

The government has asked all states to declare mucormycosis or "black fungus" an epidemic. A letter from the Health Ministry asks states to list under the "Epidemic Diseases Act" the rare but potentially fatal infection. This means all confirmed or suspected cases of black fungus, a condition seen in recovering Covid-19 patients, have to be reported to the health ministry. The disease, which can lead to blackening or discolouration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties & coughing blood, is linked to diabetes. Doctors say mucormycosis can affect the face, the nose, the orbit of the eye, or brain, which can cause even vision loss. It can also spread to the lungs. Maharashtra has reported 1,500 cases and 90 deaths from the infection. Rajasthan and Telangana have already declared black fungus an epidemic.